Do you know why honey is easier to digest and absorb than table sugar?
(The answer is actually the same for both humans and honey bees.)
The main component of table sugar is sucrose, a disaccharide made up of one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose.
When we consume sucrose, digestive enzymes in the small intestine first break it down into glucose and fructose before our bodies can absorb it.
In contrast, as honey bees transform floral nectar into honey, they use their own enzymes to break down most of the sucrose into glucose and fructose.
As a result, honey is easier for our bodies to digest and absorb.
Interestingly, honey bees do much the same thing. Rather than using sucrose-rich nectar directly as an energy source, they first break it down into glucose and fructose before using it for energy. In other words, honey is an easily digestible stored food for bees as well.
Many people today keep emergency food supplies in preparation for natural disasters. Honey is an excellent addition to any emergency kit because it has an exceptionally long shelf life, tastes delicious, and provides a quick source of energy.
Perhaps nature's oldest preserved food still deserves a place in our homes today.🍯